Disciplines

Technological innovation involves much complexity, even when
consciously restrained. Creative tools are a fundamental aspect
of modern life and should be widely available. New disciplines and
capabilities are always being introduced; relief from the
expectation that any technique is personally inaccessible is a
fundamental motivation.

Software

With sustained exponential increase in the presence of digital tools,
software is more important than ever. The only way to ensure your
specific personal needs are met is via control of your devices.
Literacy in the language of the future is strongly encouraged.
Physical devices which interpret this language are everywhere,
though adjustability is not guaranteed. Open Source has provided
immense value to us and asks only for our participation in return.

Electronics

Creation of digital and analog systems which interpret software is
more accessible than ever. Affordable catalogs of modular components,
speaking well-documented and well-supported protocols with Open Source
software and documentation, in addition to published work from thousands
of enthusiasts, have revolutionized customization and creation in a very
short period of time. Prototyping and mass production of intelligent hardware
is now accessible to anyone.

Graphics

Design for clarity and legibility is crucial for communicating clearly.
Though distant in technique, virtual three-dimensional experiences and
film photography are examples of technologies that will continue to
share importance in storytelling.

Metalworking

Durable materials which are neither easy to manipulate nor fail; these are
at the forefront of high-performance creativity, but present many challenges
in technique. Fortunately decades of experience have been passed down and
iterated upon to allow personal-scale creation with steel, aluminum and
exotics to thrive.

Woodworking

Pre-dating man-made synthetics by millennia, the venerable tree is still
a fundamental part of our creative process. Accessible and maleable with
simple hand tools, capable of exhibiting high-quality finish and
undeniably ingrained in the human aesthetic. It will continue
to be relevant for a long time.

Transportation

Continually evolving in complexity, increasingly employing proprietary
techniques, yet interacted with by millions of people with a frequency
few tools can tout&emdash; understanding the automobile is a fundamental necessity
for daily life. Technologies like the bicycle, with even longer histories,
are becoming increasingly viable in favor of their simplicity.
We have a responsibility to ourselves, as users of these tools,
to personally understand, maintain and improve them.

Experimentation

Practical chemistry is ubiquitous enough we take it for granted,
so most "experiments" tend to be unintended reactions of
well-documented results. Living food continues to show surprising
results for our health and many techniques are within our grasp.
Genetics is still one of the most prohibitive disciplines
to practice on a personal scale, though small-scale tooling continues to progress.

Food

Often reliant on trained experts to innovate food to benefit our health,
enjoyment and security, eating is one of the few activities we all participate in.
Everyone has a personal connection and can contribute creatively in this medium.

Textiles

A staple of everyday human life with a disproportionate ratio
of personal innovation to consumption. Clothing and soft goods are intimately familiar
to all of us and deserve an increased level of accessibility and innovation.